Exclusive Dirty Red interview!

If you haven’t heard about Dirty Red yet, you will be able to discover an artist of exceptional talent. I feel truly honored this fantastic emcee accepted an interview with me. Dirty Red used to hang out with Eazy E and has collaborated with Compton’s greatest.

Moreover, Dirty Red is a true Ruthless artist who brings you to the very hardcore hip hop that reflects the streets of LA in their whole, rough dimension.
If you’re fond of gangsta rap, this amazing artist should definitely please your hip hop loving earsâ€¦

1. How did you come up with the nickname Dirty Red?

I was in the studio with EAZY-E and we were about to record the promo commercial for the RUTHLESS RADIO SHOW and I was doing the intro for it. The name “RED” I had since I was a little kid because of the light skin and the hair color…The “DIRTY” part came along in my late teen years when I was doin alot of things in the streets to get ahead…so I decided to put the 2 nic names together and I introduced myself as DIRTY RED for the RUTHLESS RADIO SHOW.

2. What motivated you to become a rapper?

My motivation came along in the mid 1980’s when RUN DMC and THE FAT BOYS and L.L. COOL J did the movie “KRUSH GROOVE”…after I watched that movie I decided that’s what I wanted to do.

3. A few words about Compton legend Eazy E you knew personally…

EAZY -E was a real down to earth person…He always said what he felt and didn’t care if you liked him or didn’t like him for it…he is and was a true friend and he deserves to be called a legend.

4. Define your music within a few words…

My music is hardcore street rap…nothing more nothing less.

5. According to you, did NWA’s musical revolution change ethnic minorities ‘ conditions in the ghetto? At least, did it increase people’s awareness of the discrimination black men and other minorities were facing there?

N.W.A definitely paved the way for West Coast rap and street rappers to have an open door to express the experiences we face everyday in the hood…they definitely talked about things that had never been talked about on records before…they are the real pioneers on the West Coast.

6. What is the biggest challenge you had to face since you started rapping?

The biggest challenge I’ve had to face I would say is the learning of the industry…very few people in this industry will tell you how to be successful and how to conduct your business…alot of the learning comes from paying dues.

7 Which artists have you collaborated with already?

Ive done music with EAZY-E , ABOVE THE LAW , KOKANE , B.G. KNOCC OUT AND DRESTA THE GANGSTA…IVE WORKED WITH MADNESS 4 REAL…JULIO G AND TONY G…RHYTHM D…D.J UNEEK AND IM COLABORATING WITH A FEW ARTISTS ON MY NEW MIXTAPE “STREET HEAT vol. 2”.

8. Which artist(s) (underground or mainstream) have earned your full respect-and why?

I have a certain respect for artists that carry themselves for who they are…I can’t seem to get into any artist that acts or pretends to be like somebody else…example…when fat gold chains were the thing…all rappers wanted to wear a fat gold chain…now its the “bling” watches…I’m not into following what everybody else does or says…just be you!…so to answer your question…right now on the Westcoast ICE CUBE and SNOOP DOGG hold it down as far as the mic…DR. DRE with the production….on the East Coast I’d say JZ holds it down on the mic.

9. Old School or new school- where goes your preference?

I’m down with the old school 4 sho.

10. Your music is rich of that unique Ruthless flavor…according to you, is it an advantage to be from LA? If so, why?

I wouldn’t say its an advantage…but here in L.A we have a real thing in the streets…Im not sure where it was born or when…but its definitely a code in the streets of SOUTHERN CALI.

11. What inspires you most to write your music?

I get inspired by alot of different things…but mostly just life and the different events, past and present.

12. . A few words about your Street Heat CDs…

STREET HEAT vol. 1 was recorded in SAN BERNADINO in 2004 after I had put the mic down after Eazy died…I hadn’t recorded in years…so I just wanted to get back into the studio and record some songs to get that feeling again…I released a few copies just to the homies in the hood…people started hearing that I had recorded some stuff and they wanted to hear it so I re-released it in 2006…Now I am just finishing up STREET HEAT vol.2 so I can give people the real DIRTY RED and REAL RUTHLESS music.

13. From a personal point of view, gangsta rap is truly one of my fave genres inside of rap music.
Do you think that gangsta rap can and will help people understand better the living conditions of the ghetto, and even change some stereotypes?

I don’t think gangster rap will change anything in the ghetto’s. Things will always be the same in the hoods…that’s just the way the world is set up…but I do believe that gangster rap sheds a light on situations in the ghetto so people will look at it a little closer and people do listen to the stories and experiences that we face in the hoods.

14. The Westcoast seems to be boiling at the moment with the return of dope rappers such as BG Knocc Out, his brother Dresta and the participation of Lil Eazy, Hood Surgeon and others to the Westcoast’s revival…what or who was the detonator that motivated people to work together for a strong return of Westcoast sounds?

I dont know who set it off for the Westcoast to reunite…in my opinion the West Coast was always united…EAZY-E and DR. DRE had a beef at some point but as men they worked things out and dealt with it…THE WESTCOAST HAS NEVER GONE AWAY…I DONT KNOW WHY PEOPLE SAY “BRING THE WEST BACK”…THE WEST HAS BEEN HERE ALL THE TIME.